Genealogy Chat

Does anyone use the free downloadable PAF from the familysearch.org website? I have been using it for several weeks and so far am really pleased with it. However, there is also a basic companion programme that you can download, again free of charge, to be able to print out your tree in various formats etc. To go a bit further, apparently you can upgrade at approx $6.50 to be able to print out descendancy lists, 10 generation charts and more creative charts etc. My question is first, does anyone use this and is it worth upgrading and second, if so, how do you go about doing it? It would appear you have to telephone Utah to get a code to 'unlock' the programme. I would rather just do it online, but I can't find the facility for this. I have tried emailing the site, but have heard nothing back. Many thanks. Nicky

Hi Nicky, Don't know the answer to your query, but thanks for asking it, as I'd like to know too! I downloaded the PAF yesterday, but haven't had any time to look at it yet. So it's encouraging to know you're pleased with it. I've been using FTM, but wanted to try out some different charts, so I was wordering about the 'companion' download. Perhaps someone will give us some advice. Bee

Yes, Barbara it's brilliant. Like anything new, it took me a few days to work it out, but I find it really user friendly and I like the fact that there is so much room to put all your notes and photos and the fact it's free - well even better. As you say, let's hope someone can give us some advice.

I use PAF, and have found it to be very good. I also have the Companion, which you can download free, but which has limited additional reports unless you 'upgrade'. It only cost a very few dollars, although I had to do it by telephone. The hardest part was deciding which option to press to get through to anyone who knew anythig about what I wanted. Having said that, it is a very useful additional tool, and it was worth it for the fan chart report alone. You can print it as a complete circle, which comes out very well indeed. Highly recommended. It's a shame PAF isn't better known. It has always behaved faultlessly, and creating a GEDCOM to upload to a site like GR is dead easy, and it can automatically suppress details of any living people, so that you have no worries about GR's laughable privacy & security problems.

Yes, a one-off payment: just don't giggle when they think you're calling to buy robes for your temple activities. At least they're not as sinister as the masons - and who knows - they may be right!

I'll bear that in mind when I ring them. What's the best time to call - are they open 24 7 or will I have to work out the time difference first? Nicky

Thanks for that. Looks like I will have to ring them then and it's only a one off payment isn't it.

I don't know what hours they keep: but it's Utah you're calling. Now would be just fine.

OK I'll give it a go - thanks for that.

Well, first try didn't prove to be too helpful. As you said, after getting through the entire menu about purchasing material for gowns, I get put through to someone else who then proceeded to cut me off.

I;ve got the PAF and am more than happy with it. What would I get extra if I downloaded the free companion ?

Different ways of looking at, and printing, your data. As it is free, why not download it, and see whether it offers anything of interest. As I said before, it doesn't really come into its own unless you 'upgrade' it, but it's so cheap, the cost is not an issue.

If you download the basic companion you get, as it indicates, basic charts to print out and up to a 3 generation list. If you upgrade this, which I have just this minute done, you get much more creative trees to print in all sorts of formats, colours etc, but also 10 generation charts and full descendancy lists and I believe wall charts. For $6.75 I thought it was worth it. Have just rung Utah and given my credit card details and I was given a PIN and Unlock key number, which worked with immediate affect, so I am really pleased with that.

Thanks for your reply Alan, but I was on the phone to Utah at the time and had already given my card details so thought it best to continue that way - it's all been activated now.

Thanks. I'll do that .

I have always used PAF 5.2,also just bought the companion on disc,haven't had to register it, though I think I had to enter my name & e-mail address, if I remember correctly. As with any FT program, back up on a regular basis to an external drive or disc. I back up using the File & Export feature which can then be saved on a USB\floppy disc in GEDCOM format,use the 'Other GEDCOM 5.5' feature & select the ANSEL Character set. This is used by most tree programs-if you export into a tree using a different Character set, then you may lose data,so check the program that you are exporting to, as to what set is appropiate. I also back up into a folder named PAF & a sub folder called Paf back up & as with the GEDCOM,back up to an external disc or drive, in case your computer gives up on you. Lastly, save all media into named folders for each family name in the tree folders. The Companion program has nice charts, but unless you use a large & wide format printer, you will want to save any chart as a PDF document, this can then be edited in Adobe 8 or similar program for printing to custom.

You may have noticed I have recommended the PAF programme quite often on here. I happened to buy RootsMagic before I knew about PAF. I like both but feel easier with RootsMagic - possibly because I know it better. What I find difficult is sorting out a print which does not cover the livingroom wall but does cover say at least all my cousins. (Father and Mother both came from families of 12 and everybody has bred like rabbits.) Clive

It is good for a free program, but if you're going to pay for the upgrade, you might as well get Family Tree Maker, which has a much nicer interface, and I think more report/chart possibilities, although I'm not sure exactly what the upgraded version of PAF does. You can get FTM for around £10.